Beck, Taylor lead Bulldogs to rout of Rebels

Published 7:30 pm, Friday, April 13, 2012

Lee's Luke Stice steps onto base as Midland first baseman Jimmy Essman catches the ball to attempt the tag on Friday during their game at Ernie Johnson Field. Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram

Lee's Luke Stice steps onto base as Midland first baseman Jimmy Essman catches the ball to attempt the tag on Friday during their game at Ernie Johnson Field. Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Cindeka Nealy

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Midland's Will Taylor winds up to throw a pitch Friday during the Bulldogs game against Lee at Ernie Johnson Field. Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram

Midland's Will Taylor winds up to throw a pitch Friday during the Bulldogs game against Lee at Ernie Johnson Field. Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Cindeka Nealy

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Midland's Conor Beck hits a grand slam on Friday during the first inning of the Bulldogs game against Lee at Ernie Johnson Field. Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram

Midland's Conor Beck hits a grand slam on Friday during the first inning of the Bulldogs game against Lee at Ernie Johnson Field. Cindeka Nealy/Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Cindeka Nealy

Beck, Taylor lead Bulldogs to rout of Rebels

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After dropping its first game since March 9 on Tuesday, Midland High entered a game that may have decided the district title against Lee with just one goal -- play hard.

"Play hard, good things will happen," junior Connor Beck said. "Coach (Barry) Russell talks about that all the time."

Friday, good things happened over and over for Midland High, as the Bulldogs became the first team to defeat Lee at Ernie Johnson Field since league play began, winning 13-0 by run-rule.

On a day when nearly everyone contributed, Beck shined at the plate, finishing one hit shy of the cycle with a grand slam, while Will Taylor was nearly perfect on the mound.

"We played well today," Russell said. "We took advantage of some mistakes they made, we swung the bat well and, of course, Will was just pretty dang good today."

Midland High (19-8, 8-1) wasted no time Friday, loading the bases immediately in the top of the first thanks to a leadoff single and back-to-back errors by the Rebels.

Lee (19-7, 5-3) didn't commit an error the rest of the game, but the damage was already done, as the next batter, Travis Sims, was hit by a pitch to score a run, leaving the bases loaded for Beck after a popout by Jimmy Essman.

"(I wanted to) just get one out in the outfield really, get a base hit, help (Taylor) out," Beck said. "I know he's going to come out and pitch good, (I) had to get some runs for him."

After a called strike pitch thrown by Mick Limon, Beck saw a fastball up and in and turned on it, sending it high over the left field wall for a grand slam and changing the complexion of the game for good.

Still up 5-0, Beck led off the third with a double to left, later scoring on a wild pitch. Then Beck was one of five Bulldogs to get a hit in the fourth, when Midland High scored four runs on five hits, culminating in a two-run single by Brent Stewart that made the score 10-0.

Taylor, meanwhile, was dominant during that stretch, giving up just one hit and striking out seven in the first four innings, never allowing a ball past the infield.

"Everything (was working)," Taylor said. "It was a good day -- it was a real good day."

Down 13-0, Lee challenged Taylor late, as Luke Stice -- who went 2-for-2 on the day -- slapped a leadoff double to right in the bottom of the fifth. Ray Calhoun reached on an infield single two batters later, but Taylor closed out the game with a strikeout and a fielder's choice.

Taylor pitched five shutout innings, allowing three hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.

The win left first-place Midland High two and a half games ahead of Lee in the district standings with three games to play in the regular season, which left everyone happy in the Bulldog dugout.

"It feels great," Taylor said. "Any win is awesome, but this one's big, and I want to keep it rolling."